Sucker-head for pulp-molding machines



B. R. WILLIAMSON.

SUCKER HEAD FORYPULP MOLDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17, I919.

1,364,2%9, I Patented Jan. 4,1921.

Fig.1,

lnvenTor. B ev RWifiiiomson by 1 WfiwW BERT E. WILLIAMSON, GI" FATRFIELD, MATNE, ASSIGNGR T0 REYES GGMPANY, 0F VJATERVILLE, MAINE, A CQBPORATION 0F MAINE.

STICKER-HEAD FOR "E'U'LE?-MQLDING lrIACIHTTIES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Jan. a, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Bear R. WILLiAMson, a citizen of the United States, residing at F airfield, county of Somerset, State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Sucker-Heads for Pulp-Molding Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawingF representing like parts.

his invention relates to pick ofi or sucker head for a pulp molding apparatus. A device of this eneral type is disclosed in the patent to Ieyes, No. 740,023, granted September 29, 1903. Such a sucker head is employed topick oil the moist and more or less limp art1cle such as a pie plate or butter dish from the moldin which it has been formed in order to transfer it to another position such as onto a dryin apparatus.

Such a sucker head is 0 a general cup shape and has its mouth covered with finely reticulated material such as a wire screen. This screen prevents the article from being sucked up into the sucker head and enables the suction to be applied throughout the surface with which the sucker head contacts and also, when compressed air is blown through the sucker head to remove the article, enables it to be readily removed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a means for securing the'reticulated material to the sucker head in such a manner that a smooth and even face shall be presented for contact with the article and so that the reticulated material may be readily removed when worn or injured and readily replaced.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanyin description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings illustrate a sucker head of a type adapted to be used on an apparatus for molding pie plates.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a side view partially in vertical section of a sucker head.

Fig. 2 is a plan View on a smaller scale of the face of the sucker head.

The general construction and operation of an apparatus for molding pul articles is fully set forth in the patent to eyes above referred to, and patents which have been granted subsequently, so that no detailed descriptlon 1s necessary.

The sucker heads, as in the said Keyes patent, are usually mounted at the ends of hollow radial arms which revolve about a central axis. Suitable connections are made by which a source of vacuum and a source of compressed air are put into communication at the required times with the sucker head.

At the completion of the molding operation of the pulp article such as a pie plate, 1t is presented on one of the mold members by which it is made, and it is the object of the sucker head to remove this moist and more or less limp article from the mold member. To effect this the sucker head descends and rests upon the surface of the pulp article. Suction is then applied to the sucker head and usually compressed air blown up through the mold member. The pulp article thus clings to the sucker head and the sucker headis then revolved or moved to carry the article to a desired position, such for example as over a conveyer running to a drying apparatus. The suction or vacuum in the sucker head is then broken and preferably compressed air forced through the sucker head thus causing the article to be discharged from the sucker head.

It is very important that the face of the sucker head shall fit snugly against the article so as to insure the maintenance of the vacuum by which the article is held to the sucker head; that the face of the sucker head shall be covered with the reticulated material so that the'article shall not be drawn up into the hollow sucker head; and that the sucker head shall not injure or mar the surface of the pulp article while contacting with and holding it.

It is also important that the construction shall be such as to permit the removal and replacement of the reticulated material in order to take care of wear and damage thereto. The present invention presents a simple and efi'ective means for securing these results.

The sucker head, in the form illustrated, is shown as made of metal and having a flat cup-shaped base 1. The hollow neck 2 extends into a sleeve 3 connected to a hollow head 4 in turn connected to a hollow arm- 5. The arm 5 supports and carries the sucker head and affords the passage way to the sources of vacuum and compressed air;

The rim 6 of the cup-shaped base has its face 7 beveled outwardly and rearwardly and has its exterior periphery 8 screw threaded.

- An annular clamping member 9 is interperipheral edge overlying the beveled rim face 7. The clamping member is thenplaced in position and screwed down 'until its beveled surface cooperating with the beveled rim face firmly clamps the reticulated disk in place.

The annular clamping member is so proportioned that its outer face 12 is either behind or in the plane of the outer face of the reticulated-disk 11 when the clamping member is in place. This insures a smooth and flat surface contacting with the pulp article and prevents any undesirable marking or injury of the article when handled by the sucker head. The annular clamping member 9 is provided with spanner holes 13 by which it may i be gripped and turned and the base 1 is also provided with spanner holes 14 by which it may be held.

Whenever the reticulated disk becomes worn or injured all that it is necessary to do is to unscrew the annular clamping member, take out the worn .or injured disk, re-

place it with a fresh one, and screw the annular clamping member back in place.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 '1. A sucker head for pulp molding apthe disk and clamp it to the beveled rim face with the face of the annular member in 3r 1behind the plane of the outer face of the;

2. A sucker head for pulp molding apparatus comprising the construction defined in claim 1 in which the cup-shaped base is externally threaded and the annular clamping member is internally threaded to effect their removable securin together.

In testimony whereo I have signed my name to this specification.

BERT R. WILLIAMSON. 

